Category: OPULENCE & SPLENDOUR

Luxury and the arts From houses to cars and from Hockney to van Dyck, a profile of the best and the worst

  • American masters

    American masters

    Two works from American galleries on display at Masterpiece

     

    Business on the opening day at Masterpiece 2014 was brisk with one dealership, Symbolic & Chase, selling a 1912 Cartier corsage for in excess of $20 million (£11.75 million). Our friends at Apter-Fredericks, equally, were delighted to sell an important mirror in the first hour and the pair of pagoda top cabinets we featured for a seven figure sum later in the day. (more…)

  • Masters of Masterpiece

    Masters of Masterpiece

    The Steeple Times chooses six of the best items on display at Masterpiece 2014

     

    Thursday marks the official opening of the fifth annual Masterpiece art and antiques fair featuring over 150 leading galleries from across the world. To accompany today’s preview, The Steeple Times asked six of the exhibitors to choose their highlight from their stands (more…)

  • Mansions for £1

    Mansions for £1

    An English country house that sold for a £1 and a Scottish mansion with an asking price of just £1

     

    Downton Abbey addicts take note: For the same price as a double cheeseburger on McDonald’s saver menu you could live like the Earl and Countess Grantham if you bought a Georgian mansion in Chirnside in Berwickshire (more…)

  • Cannabis Sport

    Cannabis Sport

    Older Range Rover Sport models targeted by cannabis growers

     

    Spotted recently by a reader in Parson’s Green in London, a pair of Range Rover Sports are telling of a trend that has spread throughout Britain: Especially prevalent in West Yorkshire – where at least 40 vehicles have been successfully targeted – gangs have been stealing the powerful LED lights from these 4x4s in order to use them to grow cannabis. (more…)

  • Conquering fashion

    Conquering fashion

    Claire Rubinstein meets Zak Tyler of Veni Vici Couture

     

    Zak Tyler is a man with a vision. His aim is to turn fledgling label Veni Vici into the number one luxury European couture brand. And if his track record is anything to go by, this dream is already on the fast track to becoming reality. (more…)

  • Cinematic bliss

    Cinematic bliss

    Former home of film director Richard Attenborough for sale for £12.75 million

     

    The Academy Award winning actor, producer and director Lord Attenborough is best known for his roles in such hits as The Great Escape, Gandhi and 10 Rillington Place but it was at Old Friars, his home of many years in Richmond, Surrey, that he was able to enjoy watching films in privacy due to the house having its very own private cinema. (more…)

  • Plated VIII

    Plated VIII

    15 more of the best plates spotted by readers of ‘The Steeple Times’

     

    Continuing our series, below we feature 15 more unusual, laughable and entertaining number plates (more…)

  • A fine classical country house

    A fine classical country house

    £8 million Morley Hall combines traditional style with a home fit for modern living

     

    Morley Hall is a Georgian country house to the east of Ware in Hertfordshire. This fine residence is worthy of note as it was remodeled in the Palladian style by the renowned classical architect Raymond Erith (more…)

  • Take Owen

    Take Owen

    Former home of Take That’s Mark Owen for sale

     

    In 1996, at the age of just 24, Mark Owen paid £300,000 for Leck Hill House, near Kirkby Lonsdale on the borders of Lancashire and Cumbria. At the time, The Mirror described how he’d “fallen in love” with the house and we can see why. (more…)

  • Plated VII

    Plated VII

    15 more of the best plates spotted by readers of ‘The Steeple Times’

    Continuing our series, below we feature 15 more unusual, laughable and entertaining number plates (more…)